Page 103 of Depraved

“How’d Luca and Dom fare with the council?” Matteo questions, looking almost as battered as I am.

My bottom lip pops out in a small pout as I look at him, and he grins, motioning between us, mouthing, “Twins.” I reach for my face as if horrified, and he touches his ribs, wincing when he starts to laugh.

Dante rubs his hand down my back as he speaks. “Turns out that the Irish crew was more than happy to give their blessing. Declan didn’t make any friends with the way he came into power. As a show of their gratitude for what we did, the Irish are working a gun deal with our Boston family. It should be pretty sizeable and beneficial to all involved. And Connor O’Bannion is back in his rightful place, and he knows he owes me a favor should I ever call one in.”

My head tips up as my eyes grow wide. Dante doesn’t talk business in front of me.

“Should I go?” I whisper.

He looks down at me, shaking his head. “Why would you do that, Billy?”

My eyes shift around the room and back to Dante. “Because…you’re talking about business…I’m not…”

Dante looks out at the men. “Anybody object to Sarah being here?”

Antonio pipes up from across the couch, pulling my attention his way, “Come on, Sarah, you’re one of us. You put that shit in blood the minute you took a beating for us.”

My brows narrow in as I sit up, trying to understand him. I look back at Dante, who runs his thumb over my sore cheek.

Nico leans forward. “Yeah, and even though I think it was stupid for you to go it alone, what you did, that was stand-up.”

I can’t say anything. I’ve been practically alone my entire life, raised by men who hated me, ignored me, disregarded me, and used me for what they could gain. But as I look around the room, listening to what they’re saying, I realize this is the first time I’ve felt like I belong somewhere. Not just with Dante but with his family too.

“You’re a part of us now, and forever, Billy. You’re a made woman.” Dante teases pulling a smile to my lips.

My fingers roll the belt from the robe around my fingers. “Can I ask a question?”

Dante nods.

“What happened to my father and brother? Did you guys go after them or just come for me?”

Vincenzo squats down by the couch, his hands curving around the arm. He has the kindest eyes, but I know what he’s going to say won’t be that.

“I took care of it, Sarah. The official cause of death will be a heroin overdose, but it was in no way that easy. I made sure it lasted hours and hours. I wanted them to beg and go unheard. But I thought it was fitting for them to go out by the thing they were so desperate to possess.”

My hand darts out and cradles his cheek. “Thank you.”

It takes everything inside of me not to cry. Although, these tears wouldn’t be sad ones, they’d be joyful, but I won’t ever shed another tear about my past or the demons that haunted me.

He pats my hand as he stands, letting it fall back to Dante’s chest. I turn to the group and pat my cheeks, taking a steadying breath.

“This doesn’t mean I like any of you.” I laugh lightly. “But thank you will never be enough.”

Dante pulls me back into his chest as we all sit in silence for a moment. His voice vibrates against my shoulder as he fills the space. “I have a question. What if we didn’t come? What would you have done?”

Without so much as a pause, I answer, “I would’ve killed Declan myself and then come home.”

I hear a rush of breath, and then Matteo laughs. “You better marry her, or I will.”

Dante’s chest shakes as he laughs, and it makes me think back to the last words he said to me before all hell broke loose.

My chin tips up, taking in his scruffy cheek. “You still not wanting to be my boyfriend?”

His mouth pulls at the ends into a smile as he twists his head to the side, connecting with my eyes.

“You wanna be called wifey?” he croons, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth.

“Is that a proposal?”